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Figure painting is the hobby of painting miniature figures and/or model figures, either in its own right or as an adjunct to role-playing games, wargames, military modeling, etc. A hobby is a spare-time recreational pursuit. ...
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A model figure is a scale model that represents a person, either a generic figure of a type (such as World War II Luftwaffe pilot), a historical personage (such as King Henry VIII), or a fictional character (such as Conan). Model figures are sold both as kits for the enthusiast...
A role-playing game (RPG, often roleplaying game) is a type of game in which the participants assume the roles of characters and collaboratively create stories. ...
Wargaming is the play of simulated military operations in the form of games known as wargames. ...
Military model is a generic term that covers scale models of many different kinds -- aircraft figures, tin soldiers ships vehicles -- but all with a military theme. ...
Because of the small scale of these figures, the often finely sculpted detail can be lost by simply applying solid color. Many of special techniques allow the painter to emphasize the detail in the figure and make it "come alive".
Painting can be done by a professional painter, who may have more time to devote to painting, and/or greater painting skill, than the person wishing to have the figure painted.
Materials
Paints Most hobbyists use acrylic paint, maybe artists' paint (such as Daler Rowney's Cryla) but more often that sold especially for painting minis and other scale models (such as Acrylicos Vallejo's Model Color and Game Color or Games Workshop's Citadel Colour). Some mini painters use enamel paint (e.g., Humbrol or Testors) or even artists' oil paint. Git Up!, Acrylic painting of Muhammad Ali vs. ...
Look up artist in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...
The style of the Games Workshop logo is copied in the titles of many of their games Games Workshop (GW) is a British game production and retailing company. ...
This sign at Leytonstone tube station is a typical enamel-painted metal sign An enamel paint is a paint that dries to an especially hard, usually glossy, finish. ...
View of Delft in oil paint, by Johannes Vermeer. ...
Because the properties of oils, enamels, and acrylics differ, different techniques (see below) suit different paints.
Thinners Each kind of paint has a different thinner, used to thin the paint for a smoother coverage, and maybe to clean brushes. - acrylic: water
- enamel: enamel thinners or white spirit
- oil: white spirit
Thinners for thinning should be kept separate from thinners for cleaning to avoid contaminating one color with another. Ideally, thinners for thinning should be added to the paint using an eye-dropper (pipette) or something similar; paint brushes must be kept out of the thinners bottle! A pipette is a laboratory instrument used to transport a measured volume of liquid. ...
Inks Water-based inks can be used for washes (see below).
Agents Different agents can be used with different kinds of paint. - retarder: makes acrylics slower drying
- flow aid: used with acrylics and inks, this reduces the surface tension of the water, to improve washes
Varnishes Figures are very often varnished (especially if they will be used for game play). Varnish is a finish applied to wood or other surfaces in order to provide a clear, hard, durable, protective finish. ...
Gloss varnishes are harder waring than matt varnishes, but matt varnish often gives a more realistic finish. (Exceptions are naturally glossy materials, such as polished leather and metals, and wet surfaces.) Some enthusiasts use matt varnish over gloss varnish. This can also minimize the tendency of matt varnish to form a whitish residue when applied directly to paint.
Tools
Brushes Sculptors can pack an incredible amount of detail into these figures, and painting may require the finest brushes... maybe as fine as 00000 (5/0). Most painters will use a range of different brush sizes; 1, 00, and 0000 is a likely minimum set. Different styles of paintbrushes The term brush refers to a variety of devices mainly with bristles, wire or other filament of any possible material used mainly for cleaning, grooming hair, painting, deburring and other kinds of surface finishing, but also for many other purposes like (but not limited to) seals...
Good quality brushes are important for the best results. Kolinsky sable brushes that take a fine point are preferred, although hog or synthetic brushes are better for "rough" work: undercoating and dry brushing (see below). Kolinsky sable or red sable is the most valuable hair used in artists brushes. ...
Brush care The number one rule is to clean brush frequently and thoroughly to avoid contamination of one color with another.
For other brush care, see brush. Different styles of paintbrushes The term brush refers to a variety of devices mainly with bristles, wire or other filament of any possible material used mainly for cleaning, grooming hair, painting, deburring and other kinds of surface finishing, but also for many other purposes like (but not limited to) seals...
Palettes A palette is essential for mixing and thinning paints before application. It doesn't have to be elaborate: a plain ceramic tile will do. But it should be non-porous to avoid "sucking" the solvent out of the paint. Fixed Partial Denture, or Bridge The word ceramic is derived from the Greek word κεÏαμικος (keramikos, having to do with pottery). The term covers inorganic non-metallic materials whose formation is due to the action of heat. ...
Mission, or barrel, roof tiles For the towns named Tile, see Tile, Somalia and Tile, Lebanon. ...
Wet palette A wet palette is especially useful with acrylics that dry quickly on a dry palette. A wet palette is a sealable container with a layer of absorbant material (such as tissue paper) that can be soaked with water and a semi-permeable membrane (such as greaseproof paper or baking parchment (silicone paper)) over that. The paint sits on the membrane and is kept wet by osmosis. A semipermeable membrane is a membrane which will allow certain molecules to pass through it by diffusion (sometimes facilitated diffusion). The rate of passage depends on the pressure, concentration and temperature of the molecules (or solutes) on either side, as well as the permeability of the membrane to each kind. ...
Osmosis is the diffusion of a liquid (most often assumed to be water, but it can be any liquid solvent) through a partially-permeable membrane from a region of low solvent potential to a region of high solvent potential. ...
Wet palettes can be bought, but are easily made.
Techniques
Undercoating Undercoating is essential to good results. It provides a better surface for the paint to adhere to and – with white metal minis – inhibits corrosion of the alloy. This article is about metals and alloys. ...
The undercoat may be white, grey, black, or really any other color... Some painters always use black, which provides the deepest shadows in hard-to-reach areas that later painting might miss, but which can be difficult to cover with paler colors.
Highlighting and shading Highlighting and shading are complementary techniques used to emphasize the light and shade across the surface texture of the figure, such as creases and folds in fabric, fur, etc.
Highlighting is the application of lighter tones than the base color to raised areas. Shading is the application of darker tones to recessed areas.
Blending Blending ensures the smooth transition of the different tones into one another to improve the verisimilitude of the faux light and shade. This different tones are simply worked into one another on the figure while the paint is still wet.
Blending works well with enamels (and oils) but not with acrylics, which dry too quickly, unless a retarder is used.
Layering and feathering The same effect as blending can be achieved with acrylics by applying successive layers of color in smaller and smaller areas ("feathers"). The layers of paint build up a "hill" of successively lighter (or darker) tones.
Dry brushing Dry brushing is a highlighting technique that works especially well with finely textured surfaces such as fur, feathers, and chainmail. After applying the base color and initial highlighting and shading, a very light tone is applied by lightly dragging an almost-dry brush across the surface. David rejects the unaccustomed armour (detail of fol. ...
Using washes Washes of thinned paint or inks can be used to "fill in" the shadows.
Toning A very diluted transparent layer of color can be applied to soften harsh contrasts.
Outlining and edging Outlining is painting a solid dark thin line that separates areas and defines details by acting as a bold shadow. The darkest tone should be used. Black gives the greatest contrast and might suit minis rather than larger-scale model figures; this would be blacklining.
Edging is a less-often used complementary technique with the lightest tone.
Painting metals Metallic paints are available in all kinds of paint and can be used for metals. Some blending etc. may be required; for example, gunmetal might be highlighted with silver. Black or brown ink washes can provide suitable shading and can be particularly effective for large areas of metal such as plate armour. Armour or armor (see spelling differences) is protective clothing intended to defend its wearer from intentional harm in combat and military engagements, typically associated with soldiers. ...
Most of these paints, however, are relatively dull and lack the "lustre" of true metal.
Some painters use alcohol-based metallic paints that have a brilliant finish... but these need to be used with care, especially in conjunction with acrylics, as contact with water can cause tarnishing. In chemistry, an alcohol is any organic compound in which a hydroxyl group (-OH) is bound to a carbon atom of an alkyl or substituted alkyl group. ...
Bright steel can be achieved with white metal and pewter figures by burnishing and gloss varnishing the unpainted metal. This works particularly well with swords, axes, etc. This article is about metals and alloys. ...
Pewter plate Pewter is a metal alloy, traditionally between 85 and 99 % tin, with the remainder consisting of 1-4 % copper, acting as a hardener, with the addition of lead for the lower grades of pewter and a bluish tint. ...
Non-metallic metals (NMMs) Some painters prefer to simulate the appearance of metals using non-metallic paints.
For example, steel can by mimicked by using various shades of grey from black to white. The aim is not to define light and shadow but the play of light across a polished surface. This is really the same technique that graphic artists such as Philip Castle use, but applied to a 3D model. Graphic design is the applied art of arranging image and text to communicate a message. ...
Philip Castle is an airbrush artist, best known for designing posters for the Stanley Kubrick film A Clockwork Orange and for Paul McCartneys Wings tour, among others. ...
References - Sheperd Paine, Building and Painting Scale Figures (ISBN 1-85310-496-5)
- Jerry Scutts, Modelling and Painting Figures (Osprey 2000) (ISBN 1-902579-23-2)
External links
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Miniature-figure painting
Model-figure painting | 
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